System and method to define target volume for stimulation of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves

ABSTRACT

One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method that includes storing a volume of tissue activation (VTA) data structure that is derived from analysis of a plurality of patients. Patient data is received for a given patient, the patient data representing an assessment of a patient condition. The VTA data structure is evaluated relative to the patient data to determine a target VTA for achieving a desired therapeutic effect for the given patient.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/881,903, filed on Sep. 14, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,594,800 which isa continuation-in-part of PCT/US2009/066821, filed on Dec. 4, 2009,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/120,006, filed on Dec. 4, 2008, and entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD TODEFINE TARGET VOLUME FOR STIMULATION IN BRA1N. This application is alsoa continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/480,858,filed on May 25, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,538,543 which is a divisionalof related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/606,260, now U.S. Pat.No. 8,209,027, filed on Nov. 28, 2006, and entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD TODESIGN STRUCTURE FOR DELIVERING ELECTRICAL ENERGY TO TISSUE, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/740,031filed on Nov. 28, 2005, and entitled ROLE OF ELECTRODE DESIGN ON THEVOLUME OF TISSUE ACTIVATED DURING DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION. The entirecontents of each of the above-identified applications are incorporatedherein by reference.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

This invention was made with government support under Grant Nos. NIH R01NS-059736 and NIH F32 NS-52042. The U.S. government has certain rightsin the invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods fordetermining a target volume for stimulation of a patient's neuraltissue, such as the brain, spinal cord or a peripheral nerve.

BACKGROUND

Electrical stimulation of the nervous system has provided a therapeutictreatment for a variety of disorders. For example, electricalstimulation has been applied to pain management, such as by performingstimulation of the spinal cord. Electrical stimulation has beenperformed to augment hearing in the context of cochlear implants. Deepbrain stimulation (DBS) has also become an established therapy fortreating various conditions including, for example, Parkinson's diseaseand dystonia. DBS has also been employed to treat several otherconditions, such as clinical depression, obsessive compulsive disorder,and epilepsy to name a few.

By way of further example, the discovery that high frequency DBSgenerates clinical benefits analogous to those achieved by surgicallesioning has transformed the use of functional neurosurgery for thetreatment of movement disorders. In first world countries, thalamic DBSfor intractable tremor has replaced ablative lesions of the thalamus,and DBS of the subthalamic nucleus or globus pallidus internus (GPi).GPi has replaced pallidotomy in the treatment of the cardinal motorfeatures of Parkinson's disease (e.g., tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia).GPi DBS has also emerged as an effective therapy for dystonia, and theutility of DBS is being examined for the treatment of epilepsy,obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette's syndrome, and majordepression.

Despite the documented clinical successes of neurostimulation, themechanisms and effects of neurostimulation at the neuronal level remaindifficult to predict. As a result, modeling and simulation have playedincreasingly important roles in the engineering design and scientificanalysis of neurostimulation.

SUMMARY

The invention relates generally to systems and methods for determining atarget volume for stimulation of a patient's neural tissue, such as thebrain, spinal cord or peripheral nerves.

One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method that includesstoring (e.g., in memory) a volume of tissue activation (VTA) datastructure that is derived from analysis of a plurality of patients.Patient data is received for a given patient, the patient datarepresenting an assessment of a patient condition. The VTA datastructure is evaluated relative to the patient data to determine atarget VTA for achieving a desired therapeutic effect for the givenpatient. For example, the VTA data structure can be embodied as astatistical atlas of the brain, spinal cord or other neural target sitethat is constructed from anatomical and electrical data acquired for apatient population. The target volume of activation thus can correspondto a statistically optimized volume of tissue that can be stimulated toachieve a desired therapeutic result for the patient.

Another embodiment provides a system for determining a volume of tissueactivation for achieving a desired therapeutic effect for a givenpatient. The system includes a volume of tissue activation (VTA) datastructure stored in memory. The VTA data structure (e.g., a statisticalatlas of a particular neural tissue such as the brain, spinal cord or aperipheral nerve) is derived from analysis anatomical and electricaldata acquired for a plurality of patients. Patient data is also storedin the memory. The patient data representing an assessment of a patientcondition for the given patient. A processor is programmed to executeinstructions for evaluating the VTA data structure relative to thepatient data to determine a target VTA for achieving a desiredtherapeutic effect for the given patient. The processor is alsoprogrammed to determine at least one of a structural parameter and astimulation parameter that can provide a design VTA for the givenpatient that substantially matches the target VTA.

Methods can further be implemented to stimulate the patient's neuraltissue, such as the brain, spinal cord or a peripheral nerve for thetarget VTA to achieve a desired therapeutic effect. By way of furtherexample, the methods can be implemented as including a pre-operativephase in which a target point and trajectory are defined forimplantation of an electrode structure. The target point and trajectorycan be determined based on the target VTA determined for the patient,such as based on a set of patient data. After the electrode has beenimplanted at the predetermined location, an optimization process can beperformed to compute stimulation parameters that provide for a volume oftissue activation that substantially matches the target VTA. Thestimulation parameters to achieve the target VTA can be computed, forexample, based on electrical properties of the electrode structure, alocation of the implanted electrode structure (e.g., in a stereotacticcoordinate system for the patient), patient image data and thedetermined target VTA.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an example of a system that can be utilized to identify atarget volume of tissue activation for a patient.

FIG. 2 depicts a functional block diagram of an example approach thatcan be employed to determine a volume of tissue activation according toan aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a graph plotting thresholds that can be applied topredict neural stimulation.

FIG. 4 depicts a plot of a second difference-based approach that can beused to predict neural stimulation.

FIG. 5 depicts an example of a volume of tissue activation that can beascertained for an isotropic tissue medium.

FIG. 6 depicts an example of a volume of tissue activation that can beascertained for an anisotropic and inhomogeneous tissue medium.

FIG. 7 depicts an example of a design system that can be implementedaccording to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 8 depicts an example image of a target VTA that can be used fordesigning an electrode according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 9 depicts an example of a first design VTA overlayed on the imageof FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 depicts an example of a second design VTA overlayed on the imageof FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 depicts an example of a third design VTA overlayed on the imageof FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 depicts an image representing an example target VTA in thethalamus.

FIG. 13 depicts an image representing an example design VTA superimposedon the target VTA of FIG. 12 for a first electrode design.

FIG. 14 depicts an image representing an example design VTA superimposedon the target VTA of FIG. 12 for a second electrode design.

FIGS. 15A through 15E are graphs of data acquired from clinicalevaluation of patients for different stimulation parameters.

FIGS. 16A through 16K depict patient specific stimulation models thatcan be utilized for constructing a VTA data structure according to anaspect of the invention.

FIGS. 17A through 17D depict examples of clinical outcomes for a givenpatent for a plurality of VTAs, such as can be utilized for constructinga VTA data structure according to an aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 18A through 18F depict examples of clinical outcomes for aplurality of VTAs for different symptoms.

FIG. 19 is a table illustrating an example of sample data that can beutilized for constructing a VTA data structure according to an aspect ofthe invention.

FIG. 20 depicts an example computer environment that can be used toperform methods and processes according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 21 depicts an example of a volume of tissue activation produced byan electrode implanted adjacent a spinal cord, which is beingrepresented as an isotropic tissue medium.

FIG. 22 depicts an example of a volume of tissue activation produced byan electrode implanted adjacent a spinal cord, which is beingrepresented as an anisotropic and inhomogeneous tissue medium.

FIG. 23 depicts an example of a target VTA that can be used fordesigning an electrode for spinal cord stimulation.

FIG. 24 depicts an example of a first design VTA overlayed on the imageof FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 depicts an example of a second design VTA overlayed on the imageof FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 depicts an example of a third design VTA overlayed on the imageof FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is a table illustrating an example of sample data that can beused for constructing a VTA data structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates generally to systems and methods for determining atarget volume of tissue activation (VTA) for stimulation of a patient'stissue, such as neural tissue.

It will be appreciated that portions of the invention used to determinea target VTA or otherwise utilize the target VTA may be embodied as amethod, data processing system, or computer program product.Accordingly, these embodiments of the present invention may take theform of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely softwareembodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware, such asshown and described with respect to the computer system of FIG. 20.Furthermore, portions of the invention may be a computer program producton a computer-usable storage medium having computer readable programcode on the medium. Any suitable computer-readable medium may beutilized including, but not limited to, static and dynamic storagedevices, hard disks, optical storage devices, flash storage devices andmagnetic storage devices.

Certain embodiments of the invention have also been described hereinwith reference to block illustrations of methods, systems, and computerprogram products. It will be understood that blocks of theillustrations, and combinations of blocks in the illustrations, can beimplemented by computer-executable instructions. Thesecomputer-executable instructions may be provided to one or moreprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus (or a combination ofdevices and circuits) to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor, implement the functions specified inthe block or blocks.

These computer-executable instructions may also be stored incomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory result in an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks. Thecomputer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other processor-basedapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theblock or blocks.

FIG. 1 depicts an example of a system 10 that can be employed todetermine a target VTA. The system 10 is shown as including a computer12 that employs data and program methods to determine a target VTA 14for a given patient according to an aspect of the invention. Thecomputer 12 can be a workstation, a standalone computer, a notebookcomputer, or it can be implemented as part of a microprocessor-basedappliance or other equipment available that is programmed based on theteachings contained herein.

The computer 12 includes a processor 16 that executes instructionsprogrammed for performing the methods described herein. The instructionscan be stored in associated memory 18. In the example of FIG. 1, theprocessor 16 is depicted as running a VTA evaluation method 20. The VTAevaluation method 20 can be stored in the memory 18 and loaded into theprocessor 16 for determining the target VTA 14.

As used herein, a VTA represents an anatomical region of tissue, such asa three-dimensional volume of tissue that includes cells of the nervoussystem. For example. the tissue can be neural tissue in the brain orother part of the central nervous system, such as the spinal cord. Theneural tissue can also be part of the peripheral nervous system such asthe somatic and autonomic nervous system. For example, target sites ofthe peripheral nervous system for which a VOA can be predicted and forwhich other methods of the present invention can be utilized includecranial nerves (such as, for example, the vagus nerve and/or sacralnerve) and spinal nerves. Target sites in the autonomic nervous systeminclude the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervoussystem. Specific sites within these systems include sympathetic orparasympathetic nerves or ganglia.

The target VTA thus corresponds to a region of tissue that if stimulatedfor a given patient with electrical, chemical or a combination ofelectrical and chemical stimulation, is expected to achieve a desiredtherapeutic effect for the given patient. The therapeutic effect canvary according to the condition of the patient being treated. While thephrase “volume of tissue activation,” VTA and its variants typicallyrepresents a volume of tissue activation of an anatomical region, itwill be appreciated that such volume could also represent a volume ofinhibition region or a volume of tissue deactivation, as stimulationcould result in either generation of an activation potential or theinhibition of existing activation potentials or a combination ofactivation and inhibition of activation potentials for achieving adesired therapeutic effect.

The VTA evaluation method 20 computes the target VTA based on ananalysis of patient-specific data 22 relative to information in a VTAdata structure 24. The resulting target VTA 14 can correspond to aprobabilistic definition of the anatomical volume in an identifiedanatomical region. The VTA evaluation method can determine the targetVTA 14 from a statistically significant subset of the VTA data structure24. The relevant subset of the VTA data structure 24 can vary accordingto the patient data 22, such as can vary depending on an evaluation ofthe patient's condition.

The patient data 22 can include information corresponding to a clinicalassessment of a disease or condition (e.g., identified from a diagnosis)of the patient. The clinical assessment may be determined from aqualitative and/or quantitative assessment of the patient's condition.For example, qualitative assessments can include any clinical ratingsystem, such as the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) orother known rating systems for a particular disease. Other qualitativeassessments can be patient perceived quality of life or perceptible (bythe patient or other person) metric. One example of a quantitativefactor includes acceleration of a body part during a tremor, such as canbe measured by one or more accelerometers attached to the patient's bodyduring testing.

The type of information used for the patient data 22 can be of the sameor similar to the types of information acquired in conjunction with aclinical assessment of the therapeutic effect or a clinical outcome fora plurality of different stimulation parameters can be utilized toconstruct the VTA data structure 24. It will be understood that thetypes of information that can be utilized to assess a given patient'scondition can vary depending on conventional standards, which furthercan be tailored according to the patient's condition.

The VTA data structure 24 further can utilize a patient-specific modelthat can comprise three fundamental components that are co-registeredinto a single platform: 1) anatomical model, 2) electric field model,and 3) neural activation model. Clinically defined therapeutic andnon-therapeutic stimulation parameters can be used to determine VTAs ineach given patient. For example, each of a plurality of VTA's can bemapped onto a common atlas neural tissue platform to construct a 3Dprobabilistic map of overlapping VTAs and their relationship with thesurrounding neuroanatomy. The 3D probabilistic maps defined by the VTAdata structure 24 can be used to ascertain a target VTA for achieving adesired therapeutic results for a given patient according to the tissuevolume determined to provide a statistically maximal clinical benefitbased on the input data 22 corresponding to a clinical assessment forthe given patient.

The VTA data structure 24 can include data corresponding to a pluralityof statistical atlases 26, indicated as STATISTICAL ATLAS 1 through N,where N is a positive integer denoting the number of atlases. As afurther example, the VTA data structure 24 can be organized as ahierarchy of atlases 26, such as can be arranged hierarchically orotherwise organized according to specificity of disease and symptoms andtherapeutic results associated with stimulation for a plurality of VTAs.Each of the atlases 26 further can be in the form of a statisticalrepresentation of data that identifies the likelihood or probability ofdesirable therapeutic effect associated with providing stimulation for agiven VTA, which can vary according to the disease and/or symptoms foreach patient in the population from which the atlas has been generated.The atlases 26 can also provide similar statistical information ofnegative or undesirable therapeutic effects associated with providingstimulation for respective VTAs. The negative or undesirable therapeuticeffects can include side effects perceived by a physician or patientduring stimulation of a given VTA, such as can be afforded valuesdepending on applicable qualitative and/or quantitative assessments.

As a further example, the VTA for a plurality of different stimulationparameters and electrode placements can be determined according to thesystems and methods shown and described in the above-incorporated U.S.Pat. No. 7,346,382. For instance, the anatomical location of anelectrode can be determined from an atlas brain or other neural tissuefor each patient in the population (e.g., based on a relative locationwithin a stereotactic coordinate system). Based on the location of theelectrode or electrodes in the brain or other neural tissue such as thespinal cord or a peripheral nerve and the stimulation parameters (e.g.,amplitude, frequency, pulse width), a corresponding VTA can be computedfor each of a plurality of different stimulation parameters.Additionally, one or more corresponding VTAs can be computed for each ofa plurality of electrode locations, which VTA will vary depending on thestimulation parameters. The results of each such stimulation can also beidentified and assigned a therapeutic value or set of values (e.g., ascore) that is stored for the patient associated with the electrodelocation information and the stimulation parameters and the computed VTAdata. The VTA data structure can be generated based on respectiveclinical assessments for a plurality of patients in the representativepopulation.

Similarly to the patient input data 22, the therapeutic results storedfor each set of stimulation parameters can include any number of one ormore qualitative assessments, quantitative assessments or a combinationof qualitative and quantitative assessments. For example, qualitativeassessments can include any clinical rating system, such as the UPDRS orother known rating systems for a particular disease. Other qualitativeassessments can be patient perceived quality of life or perceptible (bythe patient or other person) metric. The criteria utilized to assess thetherapeutic effects during stimulation of a given VTA may be the same ordifferent criteria as is used to assess the patient condition andprovide the patient input data.

Those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate various otherqualitative and quantitative metrics that can be utilized to assess thetherapeutic effect associated with a given set of stimulationparameters. It further will be understood that while the majority ofstimulation parameters are described herein as relating to electricalstimulation parameters, stimulation parameters can also be associatedwith chemical stimulation, such as according to a dosage and applicationat a particular anatomical site, which chemical stimulation also has acorresponding VTA. Such chemical stimulation parameters and therapeuticresults data thus can be used in the VTA data structure 24.

By repeating stimulation of known tissue with different stimulationparameters, a corresponding data set can provide an indication oftherapeutic effect (e.g., including positive and/or negative effects)for a plurality of different VTAs. Such information can be acquired fora large sample patient population, which can be analyzed by knownstatistical methods to provide the resulting VTA data structure. It willbe appreciated that the VTA data structure (e.g., the 3D probabilisticmaps) can be updated based on clinical data acquired for additionalpatients, including based on the results of stimulating a patientaccording to the target VTA 14 determined by the VTA evaluation method20.

After a target VTA has been determined for a given patient, theprocessor can be programmed to warp or morph such target VTA to fit thecorresponding anatomical region of a particular patient (e.g., based onpatient anatomical model determined for the patient) and stored toprovide a patient-specific target VTA data 14. For instance, the targetVTA can be provided to define a volume of tissue in a generic atlasbrain or spinal cord or other neural tissue, which can be mapped to thegiven patient based on corresponding anatomical data acquired for thegiven patient via a suitable imaging modality, such as MRI, CT and thelike.

The computer system 12 can also include an optimization design algorithm28 that is programmed to determine a set of electrode design andstimulation parameters 30 which can be employed to stimulate tissue(when implanted at a predetermined location in a given patient) toachieve the target VTA 14. Those skilled in the art will understand andappreciate various optimization methods that can be utilized by thedesign algorithm 28 to determine the structural parameters and/or theelectrical parameters for approximating the target VTA 14, which hasbeen determined to achieve a desired therapeutic effect.

The design algorithm 28 can be performed pre-operatively orintra-operatively or it can be performed both pre-operatively andintra-operatively. For instance, by performing the processpre-operatively a customized electrode design can be selected, which canbe selected from a set of commercially available structures or a fullycustomized patient-specific design can be generated. Then after theimplant has been positioned, such as a geometric center of the targetVTA, the optimization can be performed to determine the set ofstimulation parameters to achieve the target VTA based on the patientdata 22, the electrode configuration and the location of the electrodein a stereotactic coordinate system for the patient.

By way of example, volume based optimization algorithms can be appliedto the target VTA to define optimal stimulation parameter settings. Theclinically defined therapeutic stimulation parameters thus can representthe gold standard. Quantitative measures as well as qualitative measurescan be utilized as parameters to determine appropriate optimal settingsto achieve the desired therapeutic results. The particular quantitativeor qualitative parameters may vary according to the particular symptomsof the patient. For instance, known clinical rating scales can providequantitative measures for a variety of conditions, including but notlimited to bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and bimanual hand function.In certain embodiments, the present invention can be used to targetspecific dermatome areas on the patient where pain or discomfort isbeing experienced. These dermatome areas correspond physiologically withspecific regions of the spinal cord. Thus, the stimulation parameterscan be selected to direct stimulation to these regions of the spinalcord to affect that particular dermatome area(s).

As a further example, in some cases it may be sufficient to ascertainthe structural parameter(s) over a predefined set of stimulationparameters during a first optimization routine. The stimulationparameters 30 can be fine tuned during a second optimization routine.Alternatively, the structural parameters and the electrical parameterscan form a parameter space that is optimized collectively. The order andinterrelationship between the stimulation parameters and the structuralparameters thus can be optimized to achieve or approximate a desiredtherapeutic effect to varying degrees of specificity and according towhat approximations and assumptions are made during such analysis.Additionally, the resulting parameters 30 can be determined toaccommodate anatomical variability between patients as well as potentialsurgical variability associated with implantation of the electrode to atarget implantation site. The electrode design parameters 30 further canbe ascertained to provide electrode contact dimensions that maximize thestimulation influence while keeping charge injection levels to aminimum.

The design parameters 30 computed by the design algorithm 28 can includeelectrode structural (or morphological) parameters, electrodestimulation parameters or a combination of structural and stimulationparameters. For the example of an electrode having a cylindricalelectrode contact, the electrode structural parameters can include theheight and/or diameter of each cylindrical electrode contact. For anelectrode having one or more contacts that are spaced apart from eachother along the electrode shaft, the structural parameters can alsoinclude an axial spacing between electrode pairs. It will be understoodand appreciated that the electrode contacts can have other shapes than acircular cylindrical shape. For example, an electrode contacts can havea substantially C-shaped cross-section, such that the electrodestructural parameters can include the radius of curvature, the arclength, and/or an axial length of the contact. Thus, the arc length thuscan range from zero degrees (corresponding to no contact) up to 360degrees (corresponding to a cylindrical type of contact). The electrodestructural parameters can include other geometric features (e.g., shape,contours, discontinuities, and the like) and interrelationships for thecontacts that form the electrode.

The system 10 can also include a display 32 that can be utilized torepresent the results and calculations performed by the designalgorithm. For instance, the display 32 can demonstrate a graphicalrepresentation, textual representation or a combination graphical andtextual information associated with determining an electrode design. Asone example, a graphical interface can provide data to the display 32for overlaying an expected VTA for one or more given designs over thetarget VTA. Such a representation provides a visual demonstration ofexpected performance that can help determine which design parametersshould be utilized to construct an electrode for given situation.

The system 10 can also include one or more other input or output devices34. Such devices 34 can provide an interface through which a user caninput data as well as control the methods 20 and 28. For example, a usercan employ the I/O device 34 to input data, such as instructions toinitiate or modify the electrode design procedure. Alternatively, theI/O device 34 can be employed to acquire the VTA data 22, such as fromanother location in the memory 18, from another storage location, or toacquire the VTA data from another process running on the computer 12 oron another machine. A user can also employ the I/O device 34 to set therange of parameters 30 or to input the patient data 22, the granularityof such parameters as well as to program other parameters being used inthe procedure. The I/O device 34 can also be utilized to interface andenable acquisition of data (e.g., imaging data) from an associatedimaging device, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, acomputer tomography (CT) system or other imaging modality.

Additionally, the system 10 can be utilized to program an implantablepulse generator (IPG) or other stimulation device 36 (e.g., via aninterface that communicatively couples the system with stimulationdevice) based on the design parameters 30 determined to achieve adesired therapeutic effect for a given patient. For instance, thestimulation parameters being programmed to the stimulation device 36 canvary depending on the electrode configuration that has been selected fora given patient. Those skilled in the art will appreciate various typesof wired and wireless connections (e.g., wired or wireless) andcommunication protocols that can be utilized to program the IPGaccording to the design parameters 30.

FIG. 2 depicts an example of a block diagram of a system 100 that can beemployed to determine a target VTA 102 to achieve a desired therapeuticeffect. For instance the target VTA 102 defines an anatomic region forstimulation that is expected to achieve a desired therapeutic effect,such as by generating (and/or inhibiting) propagating action potentialsin response to electrical stimulation by one or more electrode contactslocated within or near the target VTA. The target VTA can also involvechemical stimulation. As described herein, the target VTA 102 can beutilized to compute one or more electrode geometry parameters (e.g.,height, diameter, contact spacing, shape) and stimulation parameters(voltage or current, frequency, pulse width, and waveform shape) for anelectrode design to achieve a desired therapeutic effect for a givenpatient. As part of the design process, the system 100 can also computea VTA 104 according to corresponding design and stimulation parametersto achieve the target VTA 102. The system 100 can be implemented on acomputer or workstation programmed to perform the methods and functionsrepresented in and described with respect to FIG. 2.

The system 100 includes a finite element model (FEM) solver 106 that isprogrammed and/or configured to determine a spatial and temporal voltagesolution 112 based on anatomical and electrical models 108 and 110,respectively. The spatial and temporal voltage solution 112 can alsovary according to stimulation parameters 114. For example, the FEMsolver 106 can determine a spatial and temporal voltage solution 112 foreach (or a subset) of the available stimulation parameters 114 based onthe models 108 and 110.

The anatomical model 108 defines the location of the electrode as wellas structural features of the anatomical region being modeled for use inthe system 100. The anatomical model 108 can be generated using asuitable imaging modality (e.g., MRI or CT imaging), which can beutilized to define the electrode location in the anatomical region andthe surrounding anatomical structures. For instance, the preliminaryinitial contact location can be at the anatomic center of the nucleus.The anatomical model 108 is coupled to the electrical model 110 thatcharacterizes the electric field generated in the anatomical region. Theelectrical model 110, for example, can characterize tissue conductivityin the anatomical region of interest. As one example, the electricalmodel 110 can represent the tissue conductivity of the region as beingisotropic and homogeneous. As another example, the electrical model 110can characterize the tissue conductivity as being anisotropic andinhomogeneous. The particular characterization can vary according to thedesired accuracy and the particular type of tissue being represented bythe anatomical and electrical models. The electrical model 110 can alsocharacterize the electrical properties of the tissue electrode interfaceas well as the electrode impedance and the electrode capacitance. Theelectrical model 110 further can reflect the time dependencecharacteristics at the electrode tissue interface (e.g., via FourierFEM), such as due to the electrode capacitance.

By way of example, many electrodes (e.g., as used for DBS) arethree-dimensional structures and the tissue conductivity of the centralnervous system is both inhomogeneous (dependent on location) andanisotropic (dependent on direction). The tissue inhomogeneity andanisotropy surrounding the electrode can alter the shape of the electricfield and the subsequent neural response to stimulation. The anisotropyand inhomogeneity of such tissue medium can be accounted for by the FEMsolver 106 and the electrical model 110 incorporating 3D conductivitiesof the tissue. As one example, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can beemployed to estimate an electrical conductivity tensor of the tissuemedium surrounding one or more electrodes.

For instance, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be employed tocharacterize the diffusional behavior of water in tissue on avoxel-by-voxel basis in terms of a matrix quantity from which thediffusion coefficient can be obtained corresponding to any direction inspace. The electrical conductivity tensor (σ) of a tissue medium isobtainable from the corresponding diffusion tensor (D) determined forthe tissue medium. The hypothesized relationship between electricalconductivity and water diffusion in tissue is prompted by theobservation that in a structured medium the two processes are relatedthrough mutual respect for the boundary conditions imposed by the tissuegeometry. It has been determined that a value of the electricalconductivity tensor a can be obtained for each voxel (e.g., from DTIdata) using a linear transform of the matrix D:σ=(σ_(e) /d _(e))D  Equation 1

where σ_(e) is the effective extracellular conductivity, and

d_(e) is the effective extracellular diffusivity.

The diffusion tensors obtained from a corresponding DTI modality can betransformed to conductivity tensors, as discussed above, andincorporated into the electrical model 110 and the FEM solver 106.

The FEM solver 106 thus can solve for the spatial and temporal voltagedistribution (e.g., a potential distribution (V_(e))) 112 that isgenerated in the tissue medium in response to electrical stimulation inthe tissue according to the stimulation parameters 114. The unit ofpotential distribution can correspond to a single voxel, which canrepresent a pixel or a set of plural. For example, the FEM solver 106can determine the potential distribution 112 in the anatomical region oftissue, which can vary according to the tissue model utilized by the FEMsolver 106. The potential distribution 112 thus can represent theelectric field for each voxel for predefined electrode contact geometryand stimulation parameters. As one example, the FEM solver 106 can beimplemented as a Fourier FEM solver that accounts for the capacitance ofthe electrode-tissue interface under voltage-controlled stimulation. TheFEM solver thus can incorporate the DTI-based tissue conductivities andthe reactive components of the electrode-tissue interface into a singlesystem of equations.

One or more thresholds 116 can be applied to the potential distribution112 to ascertain (or predict) whether an activation potential has beenachieved for each given unit (e.g., voxel) of the potentialdistribution. The thresholds 116 can be predefined and applied to thepotential distribution 112 to determine a corresponding VTA 104according to whether a corresponding activating potential has beenachieved for each voxel. The VTA 104 can be computed for a defined setof stimulation parameters 114, such that a plurality of VTAs 104 can bedetermined to define a corresponding search space. The system 100 canre-compute the VTA 104 (and appropriate intermediate values) for eachset of stimulation parameters, which procedure is schematicallyrepresented by connection 118. That is, a corresponding search space ofVTAs 104 can be determined over a range of stimulation parameters 114.The resulting search space of VTAs 104 can be analyzed by anoptimization method 120 to ascertain the set of design and stimulationparameters to achieve the target VTA 102.

The thresholds 116 can be implemented by employing a neurostimulationpredictor that ascertains whether a corresponding activating potentialhas been reached for. As one example, a Fourier FEM DBS or spinal cordelectrode model can be coupled to an axon or neuron model (e.g., afield-neuron model) for the anatomical region to determine whether anactivation potential exists for each voxel. Appropriate thresholds 116can be defined for the axon or neuron model sufficient to trigger anactivating potential in the aggregate FEM analysis.

An alternative approach to the field-neuron simulations described aboveis the use of an activating function-based technique. One example ofsuch an activating function that can be employed to approximate theneuron response to electrical stimulation is a second difference of theextracellular potential distribution along a neural process (∂²Ve/∂x²),where Ve represents the potential of a given voxel. The seconddifference provides a quantitative estimate of the polarization of theaxon or neuron in response to an applied electric field. The seconddifference thus can be applied to the potential distribution to define3D surfaces that encompass the volume, where ∂²Ve/∂x² is asuprathreshold for axonal activation for the given stimulationparameters 114.

By way of illustration, FIG. 3 depicts a graph that includes an exampleof ∂²Ve/∂x² function that can be utilized as a predictor of neuralactivation. In the example of FIG. 3, the ∂²Ve/∂x² values are plotted asa function of electrode-axon distance measured from the center of theelectrode. An absolute threshold (indicated by a dashed line 142) is onetype of simple predictor that can provide a low level of accuracy inpredicting neural activation. An alternative approach is to perform acurve fitting function to provide a corresponding variable threshold(indicated by solid line 144) that approximates clinical raw data.

Yet another alternative approach is to determine the ∂²Ve/∂x² thresholdvalues as a function of pulse width and voltage. Specifically, ∂²Ve/∂x²threshold values are recorded, and these values are expressed as afunction of cathodic voltage (V) times pulse width (PW, μs). Thisexpression allows two stimulation parameters to be condensed into asingle number for prediction of thresholds. Further, threshold valuesrecorded this way were found to be valid for a wide range of electrodedesigns and stimulation parameters. These values can then be used tocreate 2D spatial contours that are swept around the z-axis to definethe VTA volume. For purposes of volume calculations, it is oftenconvenient to describe the VTA contours with analytical functions. Forexample, each contour can be described by an ellipse:(x−x0)² /a2+(y−y0)² /b2=1  Equation 2

where x0, y0 is the center of the ellipse, and

a and b are the semimajor and semiminor axes, respectively (assumingb<a).

The semimajor and semiminor coefficients are calculated from thefollowing: a=distance of threshold value from electrode contact alongx-axis; b=maximum y value of 2D threshold contour. In this examplecontour, the center of the electrode contact can be defined as beinglocated on the origin and the center of each ellipse is x0=a, y0=0. Withthis method, ∂²Ve/∂x² threshold values and VTA volumes can be predictedfor a wide range of electrode designs and stimulation parameters.

FIG. 4 depicts an example of spatial ellipsoid-based predictors 148 thatcan be implemented as described above. The predictors 148 can be appliedto a variety of electrode design and stimulation parameters. In theexample of FIG. 4, corresponding ∂²Ve/∂x² predictors forvoltage-controlled stimulation are overlaid on filled ∂²Ve/∂x² thresholdcontours, as represented by the associated indicator bar located to theright of the figure. The ∂²Ve/∂x² threshold contours can be generatedfrom the integrated field neuron model, as described herein.

By way of further example, FIGS. 5 and 6 depict example images 150 and152, respectively, demonstrating different VTAs that can be determinedfor deep brain stimulation by applying different tissue models for thesame activating function. For sake of consistency, similar referencecharacters refer to the same structural and anatomical parts in each ofthe FIGS. 5 and 6.

In FIG. 5, the VTA, indicated at 154, is determined for a tissue modelwhere the tissue medium is represented as being isotropic andhomogeneous. In FIG. 6, the image 152 demonstrates the VTA, indicated at156 for a model that represents the tissue medium as being inhomogeneousand anisotropic (a more complex and usually more accurate tissuerepresentation), such as a DTI-based tissue medium. A comparison of theapproaches demonstrates the resulting differential activation ofsurrounding anatomical structures.

Each of the tissue models utilized to derive the images of FIGS. 5 and 6includes a tissue encapsulation layer 160 around the electrode shaft162. The electrode shaft 162 extends through the thalamus 164 andterminates with its distal end located within or adjacent thesubthalamic nucleus (STN) 166. A plurality of electrode contacts 168 aredisposed in a spaced apart relationship along the length of the shaft162. The VTA 154 corresponds to a volume of tissue within a boundarydefined by activating function applied for a given set of stimulationparameters one of the contacts 168 within the STN 166. In FIG. 8, theVTA 156 similarly corresponds to a volume of tissue within a boundarydefined by activating function applied for the same given set ofstimulation parameters at a single contact within the STN 166. The VTA154 (FIG. 5) and the VTA 156 (FIG. 6) generated under the two conditionswere matched for electrode impedance.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show examples of how VTAs for spinal cord stimulationcan be displayed by the present invention. These figures demonstratedifferent VTAs that can be determined for spinal cord stimulation byapplying different tissue models for the same activating function. FIG.21 shows an image of the spinal cord 650 and two electrodes 652positioned adjacent the spinal cord 650, which is represented as beingisotropic and homogeneous in the tissue model. Each of electrodes 652has multiple electrode contacts 654. The volume of tissue activation 656produced by the left-sided electrode for a given set of stimulationparameters is shown. FIG. 22 shows an image of the spinal cord 650 andtwo electrodes 652 positioned adjacent the spinal cord 650, which isrepresented as being anisotropic and inhomogeneous in the tissue model.The volume of tissue activation 660 produced by the left-sided electrodefor a given set of stimulation parameters is shown. A comparison ofFIGS. 21 and 22 demonstrates how the different tissue models result indifferent volumes of activation.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the system 100 also includes a VTA evaluationblock 120 that is operative to search through the VTAs 104 to determinewhich VTA best matches the target VTA 102 for achieving a desiredtherapeutic effect. The evaluation block 120 can be implemented as acomputer-implemented (or computer-assisted) algorithm that evaluates thecandidate VTAs 104 in the search space. Each of the candidate VTAs 104thus has a set of electrode design and stimulation parameters thatprovides the candidate VTA. The evaluation block, for example, caninclude a scoring function 122 that assigns a score to each candidateVTA 104. The score can help a user select the set of design andstimulation parameters to best achieve the target VTA 102 from the VTAsearch space. Alternatively, the evaluation block 120 can automaticallyselect the VTA matching the target VTA 102 based, at least in part, onthe score provided for each VTA 104 in the search space. The VTAs 104and their scores can be displayed to a user, such as by providingcorresponding data to a display or other output device (e.g., aprinter).

As one example, the evaluation algorithm of the evaluation block 120 canemploy one or more criteria that establishes: (a) one or more regions inwhich activation is desired; or (b) one or more regions in whichactivation should be avoided. The criteria can be provided as part of astatistical atlas brain or other neural tissue such as the spinal cordfrom which the target VTA was ascertained for a given patient. Forexample, the scoring function 122 can determine a score of how eachcandidate VTA maps against desired and undesired regions relative to thetarget VTA 102. In one example, the scoring function 122 computes thescore as a function of the number of VTA voxels that map to the one ormore regions in which activation is desired, and the number of VTAvoxels map to the one or more regions in which activation is undesired.As another example, these two quantities may be weighted differentlysuch as, for instance, if avoiding activation of certain regions is moreimportant than obtaining activation of other regions (or vice-versa). Inyet another example, these two quantities may be used as separatescores. As another example, the evaluation block 120 and scoringfunction 122 can be implemented based on documented therapeutic effectand assign a corresponding raw score to each VTA and its associatedstimulation parameters.

By way of further example, to determine a target VTA for treatment ofParkinson's disease, the raw score provided by the scoring function 122can correspond to documented improvement according to blinded UPDRSevaluation. The VTAs can also be designated with one or more primarysymptoms of improvement, such as rigidity, bradykinesia, and/or tremor.The VTA can also be designated as being non-therapeutic when a given VTAis identified with a clinically defined side effect type (e.g., musclecontraction, parasthesia, and the like). The designation symptomaticrelief and side effects can also be weighted and applied to scoringcriteria according to the perceived conditions (e.g., through clinicaltesting) associated with a given VTA. Other scoring criteria can existfor Parkinson's disease as well as for other types of disorders that canbe utilized by the evaluation block 120. The scoring function 122 thuscan provide an indication of the therapeutic and non-therapeutic effectassociated with the VTAs 104, which can be weighted accordingly. Suchscoring can be ascertained by evaluating the candidate VTAs 104 relativeto a statistical VTA data structure, such as is utilized to determinethe target VTA for the given patient.

As a further example, VTA data structure can be provided in the form ofa 3D probabilistic map or functional VTA atlas. VTA data, for example,can be acquired for a plurality (e.g., hundreds or thousands) ofpatients so that VTA 104 for each patient can provide quantitativerelationship between the VTA and a desired therapeutic effect for thepatients. For example, each of the VTAs 104 can be broken up into avoxelized grid in which each voxel retains the score determined for therespective VTA. The voxel matrix can be statistically analyzed toprovide a corresponding probability value for each voxel in the matrixthat represents a statistical score for each voxel in the functionalatlas. With a sufficiently large search space, a corresponding targetVTA thus can be identified based on the aggregate set of VTAs 104 in thesearch space. Side effect pathways can also be integrated into the 3Dprobabilistic map of therapeutic VTAs as areas to avoid when definingthe target VTA 102 for a given patient. The resulting probabilistic VTAmap can be utilized to determine the target VTA based on imaging datafor a given patient and a clinical assessment of the given patient. Theassessment can involve qualitative and/or quantitative assessment of thepatient's condition, such as described herein.

FIG. 7 depicts an example of an electrode design system 200 that can beimplemented according to an aspect of the invention. The system 200 canbe implemented as computer-executable instructions running in one ormore computers or other processor-based systems. The system 200 includesa parameterization space 202 that includes parameters that represent oneor more design parameters that can be varied to provide an electrodedesign 204, electrical stimulation and/or chemical stimulation forachieving a desired therapeutic effect. The purpose of the system 200 isto determine which parameter or combination of plural design parameterscan provide a VTA that best matches a target VTA 206 for a givenpatient. One or more of the parameters for the electrode design oravailable ranges can be established by a user input, for example.

The target VTA 206 defines a region of tissue that, if stimulated by anelectric field from the electrode located therein, generates an actionpotential that has been determined to achieve a desired therapeuticeffect. The therapeutic effect and the location of the target VTA 206can vary according to the disorder of a particular patient. The targetVTA 206 can be predetermined for a given patient, such as describedherein.

As an example, FIG. 8 depicts an image 300 that includes arepresentation of a target VTA 302 that can be utilized to determine theelectrode design parameters for a given target nucleus. As shown in FIG.8, an electrode 304 includes a plurality of contacts 306, at least oneof which is located in the target VTA 302. The electrode shaft extendsthrough the thalamus 308 and through at least a portion of the STN 310.In the example of FIG. 8, the target VTA 302 comprises a region thatencompasses the dorsal STN and ZI/H2, such as represents a preliminarydefinition of a target VTA for STN DBS. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the design system 200 (FIG. 7) is applicable todetermining target VTAs for other nuclei in the brain as well as inother anatomical regions such as other neural tissue including thespinal cord and peripheral nerves.

Referring back to FIG. 7, the parameterization space 202 includes arange of electrode structure parameters 208. For the example of anelectrode having a plurality of cylindrical electrode contacts, theelectrode structure parameters 208 can include the height, diameter andspacing (or distribution) of the electrode contacts along the electrodeshaft. As an example, a predefined range of values for the height anddiameter parameters can be stored as part of the parameterization space(e.g., by setting limits for minimum and maximum height and diameters).Relationships between parameters can also be parameterized, such as theaspect ratio (d/h), in the parameterization space 202. The aspect ratiofurther can be utilized to constrain the optimization procedure, such asby limiting the search space to a predefined range of aspect ratios(e.g., d/h<some predefined value), which can be set according to theshape and size of the target VTA 206.

The parameterization space 202 can also include electrode stimulationparameters 210, such as voltage or current amplitude, frequency, pulsewidth and pulse shape. The stimulation parameters can be applied to oneor more electrode contacts uniformly or different set stimulationparameters can be applied to each electrode contact independently of theother electrode contacts. The contact location and trajectory of theelectrode within an anatomical region can be included as parameters 212in the parameterization space 202 identifying relative electrode andcontact placement in an anatomical region. For example, the contactlocation can be centered in the anatomical region defined by the targetVTA 206 and the trajectory can be set to a corresponding standardtrajectory for the target nucleus. Alternatively, such parameters can bevaried, as described with respect to other example embodiments describedherein.

An optimization method 214 controls the parameter searching over theparameterization space 202. The optimization method 214 can evaluate adesign VTA 216 for an instance of the parameterization space 202relative to the target VTA 206 to ascertain which instance (or subset ofinstances) of the parameterization space provides a design VTA that bestmatches the target VTA. The optimization method 214 can include one ormore search algorithms programmed to determine the electrode design 204.

As one example, the optimization method 214 can include an electrodestructure search 218 that is programmed to search the parameterizationspace 202 to determine one or more instances of electrode structureparameters. For example, the electrode structure search 218 caninitialize the parameterization space 202 to set the electrode structureparameters 208 (height and diameter) to predetermined dimensions, suchas can be arbitrarily set or can be set based on various criteria (e.g.,empirical or clinical studies). The electrode location/trajectoryparameters 212 can remain fixed during application of the electrodestructure search 218. The electrical stimulation parameters 210 can bevaried for a given set of electrode structure parameters 208 to providemaximal design VTA coverage relative to the target VTA 206, as describedherein.

The system 200 includes an electrode field model 220 and a tissue model222 that are employed by a VTA predictor 224 to determine the design VTA216 for a given instance or over a set of plural instances of theparameterization space 202. The VTA predictor 224 predicts the neuralresponse to stimulation, corresponding to the design VTA 216, byapplying the potential distribution of the electrical field model 220 tothe neuron/axon model 222. The neural response to extracellularstimulation is dependent on several factors, including, for example: (1)the electrode geometry (e.g., the electrode structure parameters 208);(2) the electrode stimulation parameters 210 (e.g., stimulus waveform,stimulation frequency, pulse width, etc.); (3) the shape of the electricfield (e.g., as determined by the inhomogeneous and anisotropic bulktissue properties); (4) the neuron geometry; (5) the neuron positionrelative to the stimulating electrode; and (6) the neuron membranedynamics. Some or all these factors can be represented in the electricfield model 220 and the neuron/axon model 222.

As one example, the electric field model 220 can be implemented as acomputer-solvable FEM mesh based on the electrode structure parameters208 and the stimulation parameters 210 in the parameterization space202. The electric field model 220 thus can include a stimulatingelectrode model that represents the morphology (or structure) of theelectrode, as established by the electrode structure parameters 208employed by the electrode structure search 218. The electric field model220 can also include a representation of the conductivity of a thinlayer of tissue encapsulating the particular electrode, which providesthe electrode tissue interface. The electric field model 220 can alsoexplicitly represent the electrode impedance and the electrodecapacitance. The electric field model 220 also includes tissueconductivity model that represents the anatomical structure surroundingthe electrode. As described herein, the tissue conductivity model caninclude data that represents inhomogeneous or anisotropic properties ofthe tissue near the stimulation electrode, such as can be obtained byDTI imaging or by using other techniques described herein.Alternatively, the tissue conductivity model might include data thatrepresents tissue near the stimulation electrode as being homogeneousand isotropic, such as described herein. The electric field model 220thus represents a potential distribution in the tissue medium for agiven set of parameters (e.g., electrode structure and electrodestimulation parameters) in parameterization space 202.

The neuron/axon model 222 can include a multi-compartment neuron or axonmodel that positions the modeled neurons or axons at specifiablepositions along one or more nerve pathways in the FEM mesh defined bythe electric field model 220. In addition to properties of individualneurons, the neuron/axon model 222 may depend on one or more of theparameters (e.g., electrode structure parameters 208 and electricalstimulation parameters 210) of the stimulation being modeled. Forexample, the stimulation pulse width will affect the neuron response.Therefore, in one example, the neuron/axon model 222 can be tailored toa specific value for one or more DBS stimulation parameters orstimulation parameters for other neural tissue such as the spinal cordor a peripheral nerve. By way of further example, the nerve pathways canbe ascertained using DTI-derived imaging data, or by using anatomicatlas data, or any other appropriate technique.

Those skilled in the art will understand appreciate various neuronmodels or axon modeling techniques that could be employed in the system200. An example of an axon model is described in Cameron C. McIntyre etal., “Modeling the Excitability of Mammalian Nerve Fibers: Influence ofAfterpotentials on the Recovery Cycle,” J. Neurophysiology, Vol. 87,February 2002, pp. 995-1006, which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety, including its disclosure of axon models. In anotherexample, a more generalized neuronal model can be used, an example ofwhich is described in Cameron C. McIntyre et al., “Cellular Effects ofDeep Brain Stimulation Model-Based Analysis of Activation andInhibition,” J. Neurophysiology, Vol. 91, April 2004, pp. 1457-1469,which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Theneuron/axon model 222 describes how the neurons will respond to anapplied electric field; namely whether the neuron will fire and whetherthe neurons will generate a propagating action potential.

As a further example, the neuron model 222 geometries are typicallybroken up into many (e.g., hundreds) of compartments. The VTA predictor224 can co-register the various compartments of the neuron/axon model222 within the FEM mesh of the electric field model 220. Thisco-registration allows calculation of the extracellular potentials fromthe applied electric field along the complex neural geometry. After theextracellular potentials are determined for each neural compartment as afunction of time during the applied stimulation, for each neuralposition relative to the electrode, the neuron/axon model 222 can beused to test whether the applied stimulus exceeded the neural thresholdthat triggers an action potential.

As another example, using the neuron/axon model 222 to simulate how theneurons (e.g., which are located as determined from the DTI-derivedconductivity data) behave, the threshold value of the second differenceof electric field that will result in such propagating action potentialscan be calculated. The stimulating influence of the electric field (asrepresented by the electric field model 220) is applied to theneuron/axon model neurons to define a threshold value. This thresholdvalue can then used to define the boundary of the design VTA in thenon-uniform conductivity tissue, similar to as discussed above withrespect to FIG. 2.

The electrode structure search 218 can vary the electrode height anddiameter over the range of predefined values, such as mentioned above.Corresponding design VTAs can be determined over the range of parametervalues. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that variousconstraints that can be programmed into the electrode structure search218 or into the parameterization space 202 to reduce computationalcomplexity of the design system. For example, it may be desirable toconstrain the diameter to height (aspect) ratio to remain below apredetermined value (e.g., d/h>1), which value further can varyaccording to the shape and volume of the target VTA 206. Those skilledin the art will appreciate various ways to quantify the shape and sizeof the target VTA 206 such that an appropriate VTA aspect ratio can beestablished to constrain the optimization accordingly.

The optimization method 214 can also include one or more scoringfunctions 226 that are employed to evaluate at least some of the designVTAs 216 in the search space relative to the target VTA 206. Differentsearch components of the optimization method can utilize the samescoring function or different scoring functions can be utilized fordifferent searches. As one example, each design VTA (corresponding to aniteration of the electrode structure search 218) can be scored accordingto the following equation:Score=(VTA_(in target)/VTA_(target))*(1−VTA_(out target)/Xvolume),  Equation 3

where:

-   -   VTA_(in target) corresponds to the portion of the design VTA 216        that resides within the target VTA 206,    -   VTA_(out target) corresponds to the portion of the design VTA        216 that resides outside of the target VTA 206, and    -   Xvolume defines the penalty for stimulation spread outside of        the target VTA.        The highest scoring electrode design VTA will represent the        maximal volume overlap between the stimulation VTA and the        target VTA while providing a penalty for VTA spread outside of        the target VTA. In practice, variants of the above scoring        equation (as well as other scoring functions) can be used to        hone in on an appropriate value for the Xvolume parameter.

As part of the electrode structure search 218, one or more of theelectrode stimulation parameters 210 can be adjusted for the givenelectrode structure design so that the design VTA spreads to or near tothe edge of the target VTA 206. Alternatively, the electrode structuresearch 218 can iteratively adjust one or more electrode structureparameters while the electrode stimulation parameters remain constant,generating a new design VTA 216 for each iteration. Those skilled in theart will appreciate various approaches that can be utilized to generatedesign VTAs 216 over the entire or a subset of the parameterizationspace. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate approaches thatcan be employed to constrain the parameterization space to expedite theoptimization process.

The results of the electrode structure search 218 can provide one ormore electrode designs 204. For example, the electrode structure search218 can provide a plurality of electrode designs (e.g., having definedelectrode structure and electrode stimulation parameters) that result inrespective design VTAs that best match the target VTA 206.

By way of illustration, FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 depict images 312, 314 and316, respectively, that include example design VTAs generated for anelectrode contact of a given electrode structure (e.g., as defined byelectrode structure parameters 208) 304 for different stimulationparameters. In each of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the same reference numbersare used to refer to the same structural parts as introduced withrespect to FIG. 8. The VTAs generated at the respective contact resultin some amount of VTA_(in target) and some amount of VTA_(out target),both of which vary as a function of the stimulation parameter settingsand the electrode contact geometry.

In FIG. 9 the image 312 includes a design VTA 320 constructed for astimulation voltage of about −2 V at the respective contact. In FIG. 10,the image 314 includes a design VTA 322 for a stimulation voltage ofabout −2.5 V at the respective contact. In FIG. 11, the image 316includes a design VTA 324 for a stimulation voltage of about −3 V at therespective contact.

In FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11, for purposes of simplicity of explanation andfor sake of comparison, it is assumed that the electrode geometryremains constant. By applying the above-described scoring criteria, theexample of FIG. 10 has the highest score and, thus, can be utilized toestablish the electrical stimulation parameters 210 associated with thegiven set of electrode structure parameters 208 for the electrode designof FIG. 7. It will be appreciated that more than three differentstimulation parameters can (and typically will) be evaluated and scoredas part of the electrode structure search 218.

The present invention can also be used for designing electrodes forspinal cord stimulation. As an example, FIG. 23 shows an image of aspinal cord 650 and two electrodes 652 positioned adjacent the spinalcord 650. Each of electrodes 652 has multiple electrode contacts 654. Atarget VTA 664 encompasses a region of the spinal cord that is targetedfor stimulation. As such, the design system 200 (FIG. 7) can be used fordesigning an electrode that targets this region of the spinal cord. Thedesign VTAs are generated for an electrode contact of a given electrodestructure for different stimulation parameters. The design VTAs arecompared against the target VTA 664. As seen in these figures, thedesign VTAs have some amount of volume being within target VTA 664 andsome amount of volume being outside of target VTA 664, and both willvary according to different stimulation parameter settings and theelectrode contact geometries. In each of FIGS. 24, 25, and 26, a designVTA is constructed at different stimulation voltages at the respectivecontact and compared against target VTA 664. FIG. 24 shows design VTA670 generated at one stimulation voltage; FIG. 25 shows design VTA 672generated at another stimulation voltage; and FIG. 26 shows design VTA674 generated at another stimulation voltage. In FIGS. 23, 24, 25, and26, for purposes of simplicity of explanation and for sake ofcomparison, it is assumed that the electrode geometry remains constant.By applying the above-described scoring criteria, the example of FIG. 26has the highest score. Accordingly, this design VTA can be used toestablish the electrical stimulation parameters associated with thegiven set of electrode structure parameters for the electrode design.

Referring back to FIG. 7, it is again noted that the electrodelocation/trajectory parameters 212 can remain fixed during theoptimization of electrode design associated with the electrode structuresearch 218 and a contact spacing search 232 (when implemented). Thesurgical trajectory for electrode implantation in a given nucleus isrelatively standardized. As one example, a general trajectory for STNDBS approximately 65 degrees up from the axial plane and approximately10 degrees off the saggital plane. As another example, the generaltrajectory for GPi DBS can be approximately 70 degrees up from the axialplane and approximately 5 degrees off the saggital plane. The particulartrajectory used in an individual patient, however, is chosen based onpre-operative imaging data to avoid major blood vessels, sulci, and theventricles.

The electrode/location and trajectory parameters 212 thus can be set tostandard electrode trajectories for a given nucleus (adjusted to avoidmajor blood vessels, sulci, and the ventricles) with the contactlocation at the anatomical center of the nucleus. The parameter valuescan remain fixed during the electrode structure search 218, such asdescribed above. After a subset of one or more electrode designs hasbeen determined for the target VTA, the optimization method 214 can varyelectrode structure and stimulation parameters to accommodate surgicalvariability (e.g., associated with surgical placement of the electrode)and anatomical variability (e.g., associated with imaging techniques fordetermining anatomical and electrical models).

The optimization method 214 can also include a variability adjustmentcomponent 230. The adjustment component 230 can refine a portion of thesearch space to reevaluate the efficacy of one or more electrode designsto account for variability that would be expected clinically. One sourceof clinical variability is the stereotactic accuracy of the electrodeplacement. For example, it has been determined that there existsapproximately 1 mm of uncertainty in all directions in three dimensionalspace when implanting many types of electrodes, such as DBS electrodes.Therefore, the variability adjustment component 230 can reevaluate theelectrode structure parameters for each of a plurality ofbest-performing electrode designs 204, such as by adjusting theelectrode location/trajectory parameter 212 to reflect the approximately1 mm of uncertainty in three-dimensional space.

As an example, a plurality (e.g., two or more, such as five) of the topscoring electrode designs 204 for the target VTA 206 can be subjected tofurther analysis including scoring. For example, the electrode locationand trajectory can be incrementally adjusted (e.g., relative to thegeometric center of the target VTA) in the dorsal/ventral,anterior/posterior, and medial/lateral directions) and the resultingdesign VTAs 216 can be scored according the sub-optimal electrodeplacements. The electrodes location parameters can be adjusted, forexample, in predetermined increments that are less than or equal to theamount of defined variation.

The surgical trajectory of the electrode in the 3D anatomical region canalso be varied, such as in a plurality of increments over a range (e.g.,+/−5 degrees) relative to the axial plane and in similar increments overa range (e.g., +/−5 degrees) relative to the saggital plane. Each of thefinalist DBS electrode designs 204 will thus be assigned a plurality ofscores for each associated design VTAs 216 resulting from theincremental adjustments (to accommodate variation in location andtrajectory). The set of VTA scores for each of the incrementallyadjusted respective electrode design 204 being reevaluated can beaggregated to provide an aggregate total score for each design. Theaverage VTA scores for each electrode design 204 further can be averagedand the highest scoring electrode design can be selected as representingan optimal DBS electrode contact for the given target nucleus or otheroptimal neural tissue electrode contact such as a spinal cord electrodecontact or a peripheral nerve electrode contact. The same scoringfunction 226 (e.g., Equation 3) can be utilized by the variabilityadjustment component 230 as is used by the electrode structure search218. Alternatively, different scoring functions could be utilized, suchas by applying weighting differently according to variations in theelectrode/trajectory parameters 212 differently (e.g., imposing anincreased penalty as the variations increase).

By way of example, existing neurostimulation devices are being equippedwith current steering capabilities (e.g., implantable pulse generatorshaving 8 or 16 independent current sources). The existence of currentsteering technology in neurostimulation becomes an attractive mode ofoperation in a situation where two (or more) contacts are located withinthe target VTA, but neither is in a position to adequately stimulate thetarget VTA without spreading stimulation into neighboring side effectregions. A possible solution is to balance stimulation through the twocontacts, possibly with unequal stimulus amplitudes, such that thetarget VTA is maximally stimulated.

The optimization method 214 can also employ a contact spacing search 232to define a contact spacing that further maximizes the design VTAcoverage with respect to the target VTA 206. Based on current steeringanalysis, there exists a contact spacing that maximizes VTA coveragealong the trajectory of the electrode shaft. The optimization method 214can employ the contact spacing search 232, such as in situations whenmore than one electrode contact will be activated to supply electricfields that may interact spatially and/or temporally. As one example,the optimization method 214 can activate the contact spacing search 232to evaluate the effects of current-steering, such as in situations whenthe top scoring electrode design fails to meet a minimum score relativeto the target VTA 206.

As one example, the contact spacing search 232 can search theparameterization space 202 according to spatially and/or temporallyoverlapping electric fields generated from multiple electrodes. Thecontact spacing search 232 can score the resulting design VTAs todetermine which design or set of electrode designs having multiplecontacts with independently controllable sources, best matches thetarget VTA. It should be noted that the electrode structure search 218can be implemented as part of or in conjunction with the contact spacingsearch 232. As a result, the combination of electrode structure search218 and the contact spacing search 232 can be employed to identify acontact spacing in conjunction with other electrode structure parameters(e.g., height and diameter for each contact) 208 that will afford amaximal VTA coverage along the trajectory of the electrode shaft. Thus,the contact spacing search 232 can be utilized to adjust the spacingbetween one or more pairs of electrodes in the electrode design 204 todetermine spacing parameters for the electrode design that provides adesign VTA 216 that more closely matches the target VTA 206.

The optimization method 214 can evaluate the impact of electrodetrajectory variability and electrode location variability with respectto the added VTA coverage that can be attained with current steeringcontacts. The contact spacing search 232 can result in the electricfield model 220 representing two or more electric field distributions,which can overlap according to the spacing and charge distribution ofthe respective fields. The spacing between electrode contacts can bedefined in the parameterization space 202 by appropriate spacingparameters defined in the electrode structure parameters 208. Thoseskilled in the art will understand ways to construct appropriateelectric field model 220 for the multiple contact electrode based on theteachings contained herein.

The variability adjustment 230 can also be utilized in conjunction withthe contact spacing search 232 and the resulting multi-contact electrodedesign 204, similar to as described with respect to the single contactmethodology. The variability adjustment component can thus identify atheoretically optimal trajectory that should be used with the determinedoptimal contact design and contact spacing (e.g., as defined by theelectrode structure parameters 208 of the resulting electrode design204).

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the design system200 thus can provide a nuclei-specific single contact electrode designor a multiple contact design that is customized to the anatomical andelectrical constraints of the target nucleus (e.g., the STN or Gpi orother neural tissue site, such as the spinal cord or a peripheralnerve). By also accounting for the potential variability in electrodeplacement and trajectory, such an electrode design should affordincrease resilience to surgical placement variability while alsomaximizing VTA coverage for the target VTA.

As described herein, the resulting stimulation parameters for theelectrode design can be employed to program an IPG or other stimulationdevice for applying stimulation to an electrode constructed according tothe structural parameters, thereby achieving neurostimulation thatsubstantially matches the target VTA.

Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the design system200 thus can provide a VTA-specific single contact electrode design or amultiple contact design that is customized to the anatomical andelectrical constraints of the target nucleus (e.g., the STN or Gpi orother neural tissue site such as the spinal cord or a peripheral nerve).Additional information about how to design an electrode for apatient-specific target VTA is disclosed in the above-incorporated U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/606,260. By also accounting for thepotential variability in electrode placement and trajectory, such anelectrode design should afford increase resilience to surgical placementvariability while also maximizing VTA coverage of the target VTA. Asdescribed herein, the resulting stimulation parameters for the electrodedesign 204 can be employed to program an IPG or other stimulation devicefor applying stimulation to an electrode constructed according to thestructural parameters, thereby achieving neurostimulation thatsubstantially matches the target VTA 206.

By way of example, the electrode design 204, including stimulationparameters, can be communicated via an interface 236 to an IPG 238. Forinstance, the interface 236 can be implemented as a physicalcommunication interface (e.g., including an electrically conductive oroptical link) or a wireless communication interface (e.g., Bluetooth, oran inductive coupling). The IPG 238 can be programmed via the interface236 prior to implanting the IPG or post-implantation. Those skilled inthe art will understand and appreciate various types of connections andcommunication protocols that can be utilized for programming the IPG 238with stimulation parameters, which may involve commercially availableand proprietary methods. Additionally, the system 200 can have more thanone interface capable of programming the IPG, a selected one of suchinterfaces can vary depending on the type of IPG and whether it has beenimplanted in vivo.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that additionalvariations in the VTA shape can be achieved by adjusting other designparameters, such as the number of contacts and spacing, the electricalstimulation parameters and the like. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the methods and systems described herein can be employedto customize an electrode design 204 to maximize VTA spread for a giventarget nucleus. While the foregoing approach has been described withrespect to electrical stimulation, those skilled in the art willunderstand that the approach is equally applicable to localized chemicalstimulation of tissue in the nervous system.

By way of further example, FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 demonstrate the effectsof electrode geometry on VTA for a particular nucleus, namely theventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) 478. For instance,FIG. 12 depicts an electrode 480 having a single contact 482 insertedinto the thalamus 484. In the example of FIG. 12 the electrode ispositioned at the anatomical center of the VIM 478. The VIM is a longnarrow nucleus measuring approximately 8 mm (dorsal-ventral) byapproximately 3 mm (anterior-posterior) by approximately 12 mm(medial-lateral).

FIG. 13 depicts a VTA 480 for an electrode 482 having first electrodedesign parameters. In the example of FIG. 13, the electrode 482 includesa contact 484 that corresponds to a standard electrode contact geometry(e.g., having a height of approximately 1.5 mm, diameter ofapproximately 1.27 mm, providing a surface area≈6 mm²), with stimulationsettings of −1 V and 90 μs pulse width at 130 Hz. The aspect ratio (d/h)of the electrode contact 484 is approximately 0.4. The electrode designof FIG. 19 produces the VTA 480 to fills approximately 26% of the VIM478 before spreading outside the target VTA defined by the VIM.

FIG. 14 depicts a VTA 490 for an electrode 492 having a second(customized) electrode design parameters, which are different from thoseof the electrode 482 of FIG. 13, such as may be determined according toan aspect of the invention. In the example of FIG. 20, the electrodeincludes a contact 494 that is also positioned at the anatomical centerof the VIM. The electrode contact 494 is designed with a diameter ofapproximately 0.75 mm and a height of approximately 2.54 mm height toprovide an aspect ratio of approximately 0.4, which more closely matchesthe aspect ratio of the VIM 478 than the example electrode in theexample of FIG. 13. For sake of comparison, the electrode contact 494has approximately the same contact surface area as the example of FIG.13 and depicts a corresponding design VTA 490 under the same stimulation(stimulation voltage of about −1 V and 90 μs pulse width). The design ofFIG. 14 conditions results in better stimulation of the VIM 478 byproducing a VTA that fills 33% of the volume, which is about a 28%increase compared to the VTA 480 in the example of FIG. 13.Additionally, the custom electrode design 492 can result inapproximately 7% more stimulation of the VIM 478 with no increase inspread outside the boundary of the target VTA defined by the VIM.

FIG. 15 depicts example data from stimulation testing at one electrodecontact in one patient (in total 163 stimulation parameter settings weretested across 6 patients), such as can be employed to provide patientdata for use in constructing the VTA data structure based on similardata acquired for a plurality of patients. The DBS data were acquiredwith a fixed stimulation frequency of 130 Hz and a fixed stimulus pulsewidth of 0.06 ms.

FIG. 15A depicts quantitative data for rigidity measurements that wereacquired with a clinical impedance measurement device (model RA-1,NeuroKinetics). In FIG. 15A, higher values of mechanical impedancerepresent greater rigidity.

FIG. 15B depicts example data for finger tapping bradykinesiameasurements that were acquired with solid state gyroscopes (model G-1,NeuroKinetics). In FIG. 15B, higher values represent lower bradykinesia.

FIG. 15C represents Paresthesia data rated on a 10 point scale, asreported by the patient. FIGS. 15D and 15E represent rigidityBradykinesia data, respectively, that have been rescored on a normalizedscale from 1 to −1. Scores above 0 indicate improvement and scores below0 indicate worsening relative to the OFF DBS baseline. Shaded areasindicate stimuli above the paresthesia threshold.

FIG. 16 (including FIGS. 16A-K) depicts examples of patient-specificstimulation models that can be employed in connection with determining atarget VTA according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 16Aillustrates 3D nuclei (e.g. thalamus and STN) that were fit to thepre-operative MRI of each subject. FIG. 16B illustrates a pre-operativeMRI that has been co-registered with a post-operative MRI to identifythe implanted DBS electrode location. FIG. 16C illustrates, for eachtested hemisphere (n=7), the electrode location defined relative to thepertinent nuclei.

FIG. 16D illustrates each patient-specific model transformed into thecontext of a single atlas brain. The atlas brain included bothanatomical and diffusion tensor imaging data and was used to predictneural activation from the stimulation protocol.

FIG. 16E illustrates DTI-based conductivity tensors with colorindicating fractional anisotropy describing the tissue electricalproperties. FIG. 16F depicts each patient-specific model having a uniqueDBS electrode location. FIG. 16G illustrates that each experimentallytested stimulation parameter setting results in a unique voltagedistribution, which varies according to the stimulation parameters. FIG.16H illustrates that a theoretical volume of tissue activated (VTA) byeach tested setting (n=163) was calculated.

Each VTA was assigned a clinical score, as shown in FIG. 16I forrigidity, in FIG. 16J for bradykinesia, and in FIG. 16K for paresthesia.Those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that each VTAcan also (or alternatively) be provided other clinically relevantscores, including quantitative and/or qualitative assessments of thepatient's condition.

FIG. 17 (including FIGS. 17A through 17D) depicts examples of clinicaloutcomes for different electrode placements and stimulation parameters.FIG. 17A illustrates DBS electrode locations for all patients (n=7hemispheres) in the context of the atlas brain. FIG. 17B depicts VTAsgenerated for all electrode locations and stimulation protocols (n=163VTAs), shown superimposed on each other. Each VTA had an assignedclinical score for rigidity, bradykinesia, and parasthesia.

FIG. 17C depicts summated activation volume associated with improvedrigidity. FIG. 17D depicts summated activation volume associated withimproved bradykinesia. The left column of FIGS. 17 C and 17D shows allVTAs with improvement in rigidity or bradykinesia, while the rightcolumn of FIGS. 17 C and 17D shows only VTAs corresponding tostimulation settings that did not also generate paresthesias.

FIG. 18 (including FIGS. 18A through 18F) depicts probabilisticstimulation target VTAs. Each target VTA can be assigned a clinicalscore for rigidity and bradykinesia as well as for other conditions.Each VTA was voxelized onto a 3D grid of 0.5 mm cubes that encompassedthe entire brain region evaluated with DBS. A statistically definedlevel of clinical improvement was then defined for each voxel based onthe VTAs that overlapped with that voxel. In FIGS. 18A through 18F, theblue volumes indicate the stimulation region associated with at least50% (FIG. 18A) or 75% (FIG. 18B) improvement in normalized clinicalscores of rigidity. The pink volumes indicate 50% (FIG. 18C) or 75%(FIG. 18D) improvement in bradykinesia. FIGS. 18E and 18F illustratecombined rigidity and bradykinesia volumes by aggregating the respectivevolumes determined for FIGS. 18A and 18C as well as the volumes fromFIGS. 18B and 18D.

FIG. 19 is a table demonstrating examples of the type of informationthat can be used to populate the VTA data structure. While the table ofFIG. 19 depicts patient data for 6 patients and 163 VTAs, it will beappreciated that the VTA data structure can (and typically) be generatedbased on a larger population size. However, six or fewer may suffice toprovide a statistical database.

In FIG. 19, for each patient, an indication of primary symptoms isincluded. Also included are the patient's age, sex, years post-surgical,the hemisphere stimulated. Electrode and stimulation parameters are alsoprovided, including the impedance and voltage range for each of aplurality of contacts for each of the VTAs. In the example table of FIG.19, the electrodes include four contacts although greater or fewercontacts can be employed. Additionally, each patient could be treatedwith a different electrode configuration.

As depicted, data is acquired for a number of VTAs for each patient,such as according to the electrode placement and stimulation parametersdescribed herein. One or more clinical scores (not shown) are alsoassociated with each of the VTAs for each patient in the VTA datastructure. For example, each VTA can be assigned a clinical score, suchas for rigidity, for bradykinesia, and for paresthesia (e.g., see FIGS.16I, 16J and 16K). Those skilled in the art will appreciate variousclinical rating systems (including qualitative and/or quantitativemetrics) that can be employed to score these as well as other patientconditions for each VTA.

FIG. 27 is a table demonstrating examples of the type of informationthat can be used to populate the VTA data structure for spinal cordstimulation. While the table of FIG. 19 depicts patient data for 6patients and 163 VTAs, it will be appreciated that the VTA datastructure can (and typically will) be generated based on a largerpopulation size. However, six or fewer may suffice to provide astatistical database.

For each patient, the location of the pain is indicated. Also includedare the patient's age, sex, and number of years post-surgical. Electrodestimulation parameters are also provided, including the impedance andvoltage ranges for each of the contacts. In the example table of FIG.27, the electrodes include four contacts each, although greater or fewercontacts can be used. Additionally, each patient could be treated with adifferent electrode configuration.

As depicted in FIG. 27, data is acquired for a number of VTAs for eachpatient, such as according to the electrode placement and stimulationparameters described herein. One or more clinical scores (not shown) arealso associated with each of the VTAs for each patient in the VTA datastructure. For example, each VTA can be assigned a clinical score, suchas for the amount of pain or parasthesia that the pain experiences.Those skilled in the art will appreciate various clinical rating systems(including qualitative and/or quantitative metrics) that can be employedto score these as well as other patient conditions for each VTA.

In view of the foregoing, FIG. 20 illustrates one example of a computersystem 500 that can be employed to execute one or more embodiments ofthe invention by storing and/or executing computer executableinstructions. Computer system 500 can be implemented on one or moregeneral purpose networked computer systems, embedded computer systems,routers, switches, server devices, client devices, various intermediatedevices/nodes or stand alone computer systems. Additionally, computersystem 500 can be implemented on various mobile clients such as, forexample, a personal digital assistant (PDA), laptop computer, pager, andthe like, provided it includes sufficient processing capabilities.

Computer system 500 includes processing unit 501, system memory 502, andsystem bus 503 that couples various system components, including thesystem memory, to processing unit 501. Dual microprocessors and othermulti-processor architectures also can be used as processing unit 501.System bus 503 may be any of several types of bus structure including amemory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. System memory 502 includes readonly memory (ROM) 504 and random access memory (RAM) 505. A basicinput/output system (BIOS) 506 can reside in ROM 504 containing thebasic routines that help to transfer information among elements withincomputer system 500.

Computer system 500 can include a hard disk drive 507, magnetic diskdrive 508, e.g., to read from or write to removable disk 509, and anoptical disk drive 510, e.g., for reading CD-ROM disk 511 or to readfrom or write to other optical media. Hard disk drive 507, magnetic diskdrive 508, and optical disk drive 510 are connected to system bus 503 bya hard disk drive interface 512, a magnetic disk drive interface 513,and an optical drive interface 514, respectively. The drives and theirassociated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of data,data structures, and computer-executable instructions for computersystem 500. Although the description of computer-readable media aboverefers to a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk and a CD, other typesof media that are readable by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes,flash memory cards, digital video disks and the like, in a variety offorms, may also be used in the operating environment; further, any suchmedia may contain computer-executable instructions for implementing oneor more parts of the present invention.

A number of program modules may be stored in drives and RAM 505,including operating system 515, one or more application programs 516,other program modules 517, and program data 518. The applicationprograms and program data can include functions and methods programmedto determine a target VTA as well as to determine design parameters forstimulation of the target VTA in a given patient, such as shown anddescribed herein.

A user may enter commands and information into computer system 500through one or more input devices 520, such as a pointing device (e.g.,a mouse, touch screen), keyboard, microphone, joystick, game pad,scanner, and the like. For instance, the user can employ input device520 to edit or modify a domain model. Additionally or alternatively, auser can access a user interface via the input device to create one ormore instances of a given domain model and associated data managementtools, as described herein. These and other input devices 520 are oftenconnected to processing unit 501 through a corresponding port interface522 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by otherinterfaces, such as a parallel port, serial port, or universal serialbus (USB). One or more output devices 524 (e.g., display, a monitor,printer, projector, or other type of displaying device) is alsoconnected to system bus 503 via interface 526, such as a video adapter.

Computer system 500 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer528. Remote computer 528 may be a workstation, computer system, router,peer device, or other common network node, and typically includes manyor all the elements described relative to computer system 500. Thelogical connections, schematically indicated at 530, can include a localarea network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN).

When used in a LAN networking environment, computer system 500 can beconnected to the local network through a network interface or adapter532. When used in a WAN networking environment, computer system 500 caninclude a modem, or can be connected to a communications server on theLAN. The modem, which may be internal or external, can be connected tosystem bus 503 via an appropriate port interface. In a networkedenvironment, application programs 516 or program data 518 depictedrelative to computer system 500, or portions thereof, may be stored in aremote memory storage device 540.

What have been described above are examples and embodiments of theinvention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatmany further combinations and permutations of the present invention arepossible. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all suchalterations, modifications and variations that fall within the scope ofthe appended claims. In the claims, unless otherwise indicated, thearticle “a” is to refer to “one or more than one.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising: storingin a memory device a volume of tissue activation (VTA) data structurethat is derived from analysis of a plurality of patients; receiving, bya computer processor, patient data for a given patient, the patient datarepresenting an assessment of a patient condition; and evaluating, bythe computer processor, the VTA data structure relative to the patientdata to determine a target VTA for achieving a desired therapeuticeffect for the given patient.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thetarget VTA has a boundary defined in a three-dimensional coordinatesystem for the patient.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprisingdetermining at least one of a structural parameter and a stimulationparameter that can provide a design VTA that substantially matches thetarget VTA.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the structural parametercomprises electrode design parameter data and the stimulation parametercomprises electrical stimulation parameter data.
 5. The method of claim4, further comprising selecting an electrode design according to theelectrode design parameter data.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising programming an implantable pulse generator according to theelectrical stimulation parameter data for the selected electrode designsuch that application of the respective electrical stimulation data toan implanted electrode structure results in stimulation of tissue thatsubstantially achieves the target VTA for the given patient.
 7. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising searching through a plurality ofVTAs by adjusting the at least one of a structural parameter and astimulation parameter to determine the design VTA that best matches thetarget VTA for achieving the desired therapeutic effect.
 8. The methodof claim 7, further comprising scoring each of the plurality of VTAs asa prospective design VTA to provide a score that characterizes an amountof overlap between each prospective design VTA and the target VTA. 9.The method of claim 8, wherein the target VTA has a boundary defined ina three-dimensional coordinate system for the patient the scoring, themethod further comprising applying a penalty to the scoring according toa spread of the design volume of tissue activation that extends outsidethe boundary of the target VTA.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thescore is determined according to:Score=(VTA_(in target)/VTA_(target))*(1−VTA_(out target) /Xvolume),where: VTA_(in target) corresponds to the portion of the design VTA thatresides within the target VTA, VTA_(out target) corresponds to theportion of the design VTA that resides outside of the target VTA, andXvolume defines the penalty for stimulation spread outside of the targetVTA.
 11. The method of claim 3, further comprising morphing the designVTA to fit the corresponding anatomical region of the given patient andstoring data representing the morphed design VTA to providepatient-specific data corresponding to the design VTA.
 12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the VTA data structure comprises a plurality ofstatistical atlases, each of the plurality of statistical atlasescomprising data that statistically characterizes a therapeutic effectfor a plurality of VTAs acquired for the plurality of patients.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the data in the VTA data structure furthercomprises stimulation parameters associated with each of the pluralityof VTAs.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the data in the VTA datastructure further comprises at least one clinical score associated witheach of the plurality of VTAs.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein eachof the statistical atlases further comprises a statisticalrepresentation of data that identifies a likelihood of desirabletherapeutic effects associated with providing stimulation for each ofthe plurality of VTAs.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein each of thestatistical atlases further comprises statistical informationcorresponding to negative or undesirable therapeutic effects associatedwith providing stimulation for each of the respective VTAs.
 17. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the plurality of statistical atlases arehierarchically organized according to one or more categories and aplurality of subcategories.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the oneor more categories and the plurality of subcategories are based on atleast one of symptoms and diseases.
 19. The method of claim 12, whereinthe plurality of statistical atlases are atlases of spinal cords. 20.The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the VTA datastructure in response to acquiring clinical data for at least oneadditional patient.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue is thespinal cord.
 22. A system for determining a volume of tissue activationfor achieving a desired therapeutic effect for a given patient, thesystem comprising: a volume of tissue activation (VTA) data structurestored in memory, the VTA data structure being derived from analysisanatomical and electrical data acquired for a plurality of patients;patient data stored in the memory, the patient data representing anassessment of a patient condition for the given patient; and a processorprogrammed to execute instructions for: evaluating the VTA datastructure relative to the patient data to determine a target VTA forachieving a desired therapeutic effect for the given patient, anddetermining at least one of a structural parameter and a stimulationparameter that can provide a design VTA for the given patient thatsubstantially matches the target VTA.
 23. The system of claim 22,further comprising an interface configured for communicatively couplingthe system to a stimulation device, the processor being programmed toprogram the stimulation device according to the stimulation parameter toachieve a desired therapeutic effect for the given patient.
 24. Thesystem of claim 22, wherein the processor is programmed to employ anoptimization algorithm programmed to search through a plurality of VTAsin the VTA data structure by adjusting the at least one of a structuralparameter and a stimulation parameter to determine the design VTA thatbest matches the target VTA for achieving the desired therapeuticeffect.
 25. The system of claim 22, wherein the tissue is the spinalcord.
 26. A computer-implemented method comprising: storing in memory avolume of tissue activation (VTA) data structure that is derived fromanalysis of a plurality of patients, wherein the VTA data structureincludes a statistical atlas mapping, for sub-regions of the atlas,respective probabilities for stimulation at the respective sub-regionsto achieve a therapeutic effect; receiving, by a computer processor,patient data for a given patient, the patient data representing anassessment of a patient disease condition; and constructing, by thecomputer processor, a target VTA based on the probabilities mapped inthe atlas and the received patient data.
 27. The method of claim 26,wherein the atlas is generated based on analysis of therapeutic effectof a plurality of VTAs of a patient population.
 28. The method of claim27, wherein each voxel of the atlas is assigned a respective therapeuticprobability value based on information pertaining to those of theplurality of VTAs of which the respective voxel is a part.
 29. Themethod of claim 26, wherein: the VTA data structure includes a pluralityof statistical atlases of which the statistical atlas is one; each ofthe atlases maps, for sub-regions of the atlas, respective probabilitiesfor stimulation at the respective sub-regions to achieve a respectivetherapeutic effect to which the respective atlas pertains; and theplurality of atlases are hierarchically organized according to one ormore categories and a plurality of subcategories.